Harriet Dart the british tennis player has sparked controversy after a comment she made during her match at the Rouen Open. The 28-year-old, ranked as Britain’s number four, was facing France’s Lois Boisson in the first round when the incident occurred.
The Comment That Started It All
During a changeover, Dart approached the umpire and made a request about her opponent’s body odour. She said, “Can you tell her to wear deodorant?” Dart repeated the comment, saying, “Because the smell. Can you tell her to wear deodorant? She smells really bad.” At that moment, Dart had just lost the first set 6-0 and was struggling in the second set.
Umpire’s Reaction and Boisson’s Response
The umpire did not respond to Dart’s request, and Boisson, unaware of the comment, had already returned to the court. The French player later posted clips from the match on her Instagram, but she did not mention the incident.
Backlash and Criticism from Fans
Following the comment, Dart faced strong criticism online. Many fans called her words “pathetic,” and some even demanded the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) take action. Dart, who lost the match 6-3 in the second set, received backlash for what was seen as an inappropriate remark.
Dart’s Public Apology
To address the situation, Dart took to Instagram to apologize. She wrote, “Hey everyone, I want to apologise for what I said on court today. It was a heat-of-the-moment comment that I truly regret. That’s not how I want to carry myself, and I take full responsibility. I have a lot of respect for Lois and how she competed today. I’ll learn from this and move forward.”
What’s Next for Harriet Dart?
As of now, the WTA has not commented on whether any action will be taken regarding the incident. Dart’s apology and the attention surrounding her words have left fans wondering how this will affect her career moving forward.